Troy Lilly recaps this Sunday’s episode of Sunday Best…

There were plenty of smiling faces on this week’s episode of Sunday Best. During the first night of performances, ten eager singers from season four’s Top 20 graced the stage aiming to prove they deserved to be in the competition. But early on, there were more anxious smiles from the contestants than smiles of satisfaction from the judges.

That’s not to say there weren’t any laughs or lighthearted moments. There were several, thanks to Sunday Best host, Kirk Franklin, who opened the show with a performance of “Smile,” the popular single from his latest album.

For a man who’s barely taller than Justin Bieber is, Kirk sure knows how to work a stage and, as I mention on a regular basis, we never know what he’s going to do – or say! So it was no surprise that during his performance, he ended up passing the microphone at the judges table between Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell and her sister Tina Campbell.

Throughout the evening, though, it was often clear that even he wasn’t sure what to say to contestants following some of the performances.

Here’s how they went down:

Toneisha Jones- Harris – “Here I Am To Worship”
Starting the show is never easy, but imagine starting off the whole season! Toneisha’s jazzed-up version of this praise-and-worship staple was pleasant as she held her tone and had clean riffs. She explored the stage a little, but there wasn’t much feeling beyond the surface of the words she was singing. The judges noted that she abandoned the simplicity of the melody.

Michael Washington – “Great is Your Mercy”
Maybe the judges were watching a different version of this performance. They absolutely loved it, and while I didn’t hate it, my impression was that if Sunday Best were a stage play or a theatrical production, Michael’s voice would be perfect. As with Toneisha before him, I didn’t feel much from Michael. However, it is nice to see a clean, calculated singer whose ability is unquestionable. I just like to feel my gospel music.

Andrea Helms – “Because of Who You Are”
First Lady Andrea Helms gave what I thought was the first great performance of the night. She started strong and only improved as she journeyed through the chorus and into the vamp. Most importantly, her face conveyed the emotion of the lyrics. Andrea’s voice is sweeter than most, but it’s still a powerful instrument and her presentation is flawless. Donnie, Erica and Tina agreed.

Chase Stancle – “Running Back to You”
A shaky vocal tone tripped Chase up from the very beginning of his performance, and unfortunately, it didn’t improve. He did reach for a range of notes in the middle of the song, but I think most people (including Chase) were distracted by his uneven tone. He was probably a bit nervous which is why he ended the song on a rather low note. Kirk attempted to relieve the tension by joking a bit, but the judges clearly noticed he was affected.

Amber Bullock – “We Must Praise”
Amber is the kind of girl we all know… the one who started singing before she could talk. Amber delivered a performance that was perfectly imperfect. Her voice is just raspy enough to growl but still balanced with a pure tone. She also has precise enunciation, which only contributes to the clarity of her delivery. I’m sure she won’t have any trouble advancing to the final rounds.

Carlington Roberts – “Lord I Life Your Name on High”
If you remember my recap from last week, I mentioned that we might get a little reggae on this season. I was talking about Carlington, a native Jamaican, who represents a totally new sound in mainstream gospel. His performance revealed that he’s skilled in leading a congregation in worship. He moved about the stage quite a bit, which may have compensated for his forgettable vocal delivery. His voice, ironically, reminds me of Donnie’s. Since the judges appreciate his unique sound, it will be interesting to see how far he progresses.

Shanandolan Reynolds – “Joyful, Joyful”
During her audition, Shanandolan seemed full of silent confidence. On Sunday, her voice was heard before she emerged on the stage, and again, her voice sounded sure and tender. But once on stage, her rendition of this song (famously recorded by Lauryn Hill) fell into the karaoke-esque vocal choices that you’ve heard every singer duplicate on this song. It was evident from her demeanor that she let herself down. The judges acknowledged her inconsistent delivery, but seemed committed to developing her underlying talent.

Michael Pugh – “I Won’t Complain”
Michael’s performance wasn’t really a performance at all. He walked onto the stage with a different look in his eyes. Although it took the audience a second to get with him, he kept pushing the song out until there was a connection. The last third of the song, and especially the moments after he was done singing and he continued to exhort the audience, proved that Michael not only believes what he’s singing but he’s skilled at conveying it. As voices go, his is as traditional as they come, but the judges and obviously, the audience enjoyed it.

Latrice Smith – “Walk With Me”
Oh, Latrice. I know she knows she can really sing. But she got really lost between sticking to the melody and coloring the song with her adlibs. And once her upper range didn’t work, she would’ve been best served to leave it be. In the middle of the song, it appeared that even she was ready for it to be over. Again, although I’m sure she has major vocal chops, this performance may have sealed her fate.

Ricky Valentino Lafontaine – “I Need Thee”
To his credit, Ricky had to sing a one-part hymn and only had an organ to back him up. The song was also very short, so those factors could explain why his performance felt a bit incomplete. After proclaiming that he has sung with Yolanda Adams, and even Mary Mary, expectations for his voice were already too high. He tried to live up to the hype by singing in a particularly high key, but that prevented him from being able to elevate the song any further. It may not be his time to take the stage alone just yet, and his colleagues, Erica and Tina, echoed those sentiments.

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So now that we’ve had a chance to see and hear half of the Top 20 on center stage, what do you think is in store for the remaining 10? Personally, I’m hoping we get a few more singers who capitalize on their moment a little better than some of the contestants did tonight.

Next week, the remaining ten contestants in the Top 20 will perform and ultimately, only ten singers will advance to the next round. That’s the part I get excited about because mentor Kim Burrell returns to guide these budding singers through the ropes of the singing competition.

Were you impressed with any of this week’s performances?

How strong are the guys in the competition?

Are you wondering what Kirk Franklin will do next?